Lola Tung Defends ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty' Engagement Ring
In a new interview with Pedestrian TV, the actor called all the backlash 'very funny' but also, 'a little much.' She continued to defend the jewelry, saying that she loved the ring and calling it appropriate for Team Jellyfish and 'very them,' especially given their current finances.
Noting that Jeremiah is now $20,000 in debt to his dad because he forgot to take some core classes needed to graduate, Lola called the ring 'practical' and 'beautiful.' She added, 'It's not about material things, you know?'
She also responded to the criticisms in a separate interview with PopSugar Australia, defending her character's fiancé. 'Jeremiah was trying to be a little smart buying a ring that wasn't crazy expensive and putting his father further in debt,' she said. 'He knows Belly very well and he knows her style, and it's a very practical ring and very beautiful and simple.'
These are all rational points, considering Jeremiah and Belly are two college students with no real income to speak of. However, Jeremiah is not a rational character. He is a 21-year-old frat boy who didn't read the fine print on his major requirements, costing himself and his dad $20,000. He's a man who cheated on his girlfriend of three years—'break' be damned—and then in a desperate attempt to make up for it, proposed in a hospital parking lot.
I'm supposed to believe that he wouldn't voluntarily go into credit card debt to pay for a bigger engagement ring? This is one piece of propaganda I will not be falling for!
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New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
‘The Summer I Turned Pretty' adds sex scene in surprising change from book
'The Summer I Turned Pretty' has managed to surprise longtime fans. In the newest episode of the popular Prime Video show, released Wednesday, Aug. 6, Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Belly (Lola Tung) get closer than ever despite Belly's upcoming wedding to Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno). 8 Belly (Lola Tung) and Conrad (Chris Briney) in the newest episode of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty.' Prime Advertisement 8 Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) and Belly (Lola Tung) in a still from Season 3 of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty.' Erika Doss/Prime Although many of the scenes are straight from creator Jenny Han's book trilogy of the same name, including one where Conrad sensually wipes Belly's chin with his hand after she eats a peach, some moments from the new episode never took place in the original novel. One of those moments comes when Conrad and Belly appear during a flashback from their last night together before their split. Advertisement The pair gets sexually intimate, marking a surprising contrast between what unfolds in the 'We'll Always Have Summer' book that the current season is based on and the show itself – especially because the original novel makes it clear that Belly never got intimate with Conrad or his brother, Jeremiah. 8 Belly (Lola Tung) and Conrad (Chris Briney) get intimate during a flashback in the new episode of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty.' Prime Han, who serves as co-screenwriter and executive producer of the hit Prime Video series, teased back in May that there were 'definitely changes' between her final novel of the trilogy and the show's third season. 'There are surprises,' she told Entertainment Weekly. 'And there are things that aren't exactly like the books.' Advertisement As for the beloved show's highly anticipated finale on Sept. 17, Han promised that it would be a 'satisfying' ending for everyone, whether they are familiar with her original trilogy or not. 8 Lola Tung and Christopher Briney during Season 2 of 'The Season I Turned Pretty.' Amazon/Courtesy Everett Collection 8 Belly (Lola Tung) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) during Season 3 of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty.' Erika Doss/Prime 'A successful love triangle is one where, no matter what happens, people are going to be devastated and heartbroken,' she teased. 'Because if the answer feels really clear and easy, then there's no real conflict. No matter what you do, someone's going to be hurt by it.' Advertisement The first season of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' premiered in June 2022, 13 years after Han released her book of the same name. Following the dramatic love triangle between Isabel 'Belly' Conklin and brothers Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher, the current and final season sees Belly finally choose between the siblings. 8 Belly (Lola Tung) in Season of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty.' Erika Doss/Prime Tung, 22, admitted that she was 'very emotional' shooting the final season after playing Belly for so long. 'I cried, naturally, many, many times,' the actress told Entertainment Weekly in July. 'I was 18 when I was first cast, and I just finished my first year of college, and I was 22 when we wrapped this year.' 'I really, really do feel like I have grown up a lot on the show… it's just been such a big chapter of my life — in a very important part of my life,' Tung added. 'It felt very special, very emotional, and [I'm] very proud and just happy with how everything's gone and how the story's been received.' As for Han, she said that she 'definitely cried' watching Tung, Briney, 27, and Casalegno, 25, bring her characters to life one last time for the final season of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty.' 8 Lola Tung, Gavin Casalegno, Christopher Briney, Rain Spencer and Sean Kaufman in 'The Summer I Turned Pretty.' ©Amazon/Courtesy Everett Collection Advertisement 8 Belly (Lola Tung) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) in 'The Summer I Turned Pretty.' Erika Doss/Prime 'It was, in some ways, surreal,' the author told the outlet. 'I remember Lola was like, 'You're not crying that hard,' and I was like, 'I'm always going to know you, and it doesn't feel like goodbye to me.'' 'Lola is so special and dear to me,' Han added. 'This is such a moment in time, but this girl, I'll see her soon.'
Forbes
6 hours ago
- Forbes
‘The Summer I Turned Pretty' Season 3 Episode 5 Recap: Conrad's POV Changes Everything
Spoilers ahead for The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3, Episode 5. It's finally time we get to hear Conrad's point of view. In The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3, Episode 5, Conrad takes over narration from Belly, giving us insight into his thoughts on his ex-girlfriend and his brother's upcoming wedding. Read on for a breakdown of the over one-hour episode that has everyone talking (including that peach scene!). The fifth episode picks up one week after Belly's birthday weekend, which ended with Conrad agreeing to be Jeremiah's best man. Belly is staying in Cousins after a fight with her mom, and Conrad is also there; he extended his trip after overhearing Belly cry in her room. Conrad reveals that even a week later, he's still replaying the moment Belly hugged him for baking her Dirt Bombs and agreeing to be in the wedding. While he's fixing the roof — and getting distracted by Belly swimming — he gets a call from his father, who wants his thoughts on the Jere-Belly wedding. He tells his dad that it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, and that ultimately, it's Belly and Jeremiah's decision. 'I just have to stay away from her until the wedding,' Conrad convinces himself after the call. "And then she'll be my brother's wife and I won't think of her that way again." Taylor runs into Steven outside the office after she agrees to take Jeremiah to Cousins for a weekend of wedding planning. Unfortunately, Taylor's plans to go to Cousins get thrown out the window after her mom's salon inspection was moved up, meaning that it will just be Belly, Jeremiah and Conrad together for the Fourth of July. Belly and Conrad run into each other in the kitchen, where Belly is eating a Pop-Tart. Conrad says she can eat the food he left out for her, but she replies that she doesn't want to eat his food without asking. She adds that she hasn't really seen him, so she hasn't had the chance. Belly then brings up California again, saying it's unfortunate he has to go back to work before the wedding. Conrad is still lying to her and his family about what happened at the summer clinic. What's Going On Between Steven And Denise? At the office, Jeremiah hints to Steven that there's sexual tension between him and his co-worker Denise and implies that the reason Steven isn't interested is because he's still into Taylor. Jeremiah asks Steven why he hasn't asked Denise out yet as she returns to her desk. Before they leave for the weekend, Adam assigns them one last task: to check Slack. Jeremiah says he'll handle the extra work and tells Steven and Denise to leave. Plus, he wants to get on his dad's good side, and he'll just take the later train to Cousins. Steven and Denise end up on the same Amtrak train to New York, where they bond over their love of gaming. Steven eventually opens up to her, admitting that he doesn't actually like his job and wants to do something more fulfilling, especially since he almost died two weeks ago. Denise, in turn, agrees that she hates her job and wants to do something more meaningful as well. What Happens During Belly And Conrad's Wedding Errands? Back in Cousins, Belly asks Conrad for a ride to take care of some wedding planning tasks. He hesitantly says he'll be quick with the car and be right back. As she walks over to her bike, we see a flashback of a young Conrad helping Belly with her bike as she falls behind. But back in the present, he realizes that it's "not his job" to help her anymore. When he drives into town, he sees her struggling with her bags on the bike and offers her a ride. She accepts, and they stop at a flower shop. Belly tells the florist what she is looking for, explaining that it's for a beach party instead of a wedding, hoping to get a better price. After Conrad steps in and hints that it's for a wedding, the florist mistakenly assumes he's the groom (awkward!). The florist then reveals that they have a minimum spend of $5,000 for weddings, which is way out of their budget. Conrad tells Belly to just use his mom's hydrangeas. Jeremiah calls Belly and tells her that he won't be able to make it to Cousins because he's working late. When she mentions an alternative idea for a cake (without his fancy mirror glaze), he insists on the $750 cake. She breaks down to Conrad, upset that she's stuck making all the decisions they can't afford — and that she's doing all of it alone. Conrad insists that they go to Michaels before the sale ends, not wanting to let Belly miss out. 'I'm so f*cked,' his narration says. Then, in surprise change of heart, Jeremiah's dad tells him that he's proud of him, both at work and at home, and gives him and Belly his full support to move ahead with the wedding. He offers to pay for the entire wedding and wants to have it at the club instead of the house. What Do Belly And Conrad Learn About Each Other? While on their way to Michaels, Conrad asks Belly about the GRE prep book he saw, and she says she wants to be a sports psychologist. Conrad reveals that he's also going to therapy to help manage his panic attacks. They both notice new things about each other: Belly sees that Conrad is all grown up, now that he has his life in California and his career. Conrad notices that Belly's a better driver and that she wears heels now. "You don't miss a thing," she says. On the way back from the store, Conrad finally opens up to Belly. He says that he didn't just take a break this summer, he got fired the day Steven got into his accident, because he couldn't focus. Belly says there's a world where getting fired is the best thing to ever happen to you. 'You are right where you're supposed to be,' she tells him, and that he doesn't have to be the hero all the time. What Happens At The Peach Orchard Between Belly And Conrad? Belly and Conrad stop at a peach orchard on their way back home from Michaels. Belly grabs one, but Conrad doesn't because he's allergic. Instead, he watches her as she eats the 'perfect peach.' He hands her another one, which is just as good as the first. He then takes his white shirt and wipes the peach juice from her face. They stare into each other's eyes, but Belly breaks away, saying she's going to grab a couple for Jere. They cook dinner together and enjoy some wine with their meal, laughing about what happened earlier at the florist and Michaels. Conrad then has a flashback to four years ago, the last time he was at Belly's house before they broke up. He remembers that night was the last time they were together in an intimate way, and he wonders: What if he hadn't messed it up back then? But the moment is broken when Jeremiah comes home. On the dock, Jeremiah tells Belly the good news: His dad wants to pay for the wedding, but he wants to do it at the club and invite some people from work, but that throws Belly off guard. Belly eventually agrees, and says that it's the kind of wedding that his mom would have wanted. Conrad sees them dancing on the dock, and he promises himself that he won't slip up again – especially because the promises 'you make on your mother's deathbed are absolute.' What Was Conrad's Promise To His Mom? Four years ago, Susannah told Conrad she wasn't scared to die because she knew he would be okay, and Jeremiah would be okay too, because he had Conrad as a big brother. When Conrad replied that he wasn't a great brother, Susannah objected, telling him that he had always looked out for Jeremiah and always would. He agreed, promising to always be there for his brother. In the present, he said he kept his word to his mom by leaving for California. With the wedding approaching, will Conrad be able to keep his feelings at bay? Or will he have to break his promise to his mother and tell Belly how he truly feels? Season 3, Episode 5 of The Summer I Turned Pretty premieres on Wednesday, August 13 at 3 a.m. ET/12 p.m. PT on Prime Video. Check out the full release schedule below.
Elle
8 hours ago
- Elle
What The 'My Oxford Year' Ending Says About Choosing Between Love And Your Future
Spoilers below. The coming-of-age genre loves to make its characters choose between a relationship and their future. We're seeing it in The Summer I Turned Pretty, with Belly abandoning plans to study in Paris to stay with her fiancé, Jeremiah (who didn't want her to go anyway). Earlier this spring, we saw it in Forever: Justin wants to go with Keisha to Howard University, but she'd prefer that they have their own experiences. There are many other instances of this in pop culture, usually with the girl choosing a boy over her dreams. Cosmopolitan recently pointed out examples in The Hills, Boy Meets World, and more. (And let's not forget how Nate became the villain in The Devil Wears Prada for trying to keep Andy from her job.) Watching these relationships as the audience, it might be easy to scold the women who choose the boy. Like, Girl, stand up! He is not worth it! My Oxford Year, Netflix's newest romance film, complicates that decision with life-or-death stakes. The movie stars Sofia Carson (the streamer's go-to leading lady) as Anna, a big dreamer and type-A planner who takes a gap year to fulfill her childhood fantasy of attending Oxford University. Once she's done with her poetry course, she has a high-profile finance job waiting for her back in the States. But then she falls for her hot professor, Jamie Davenport (Queen Charlotte's Corey Mylchreest), who messes up her plans. Despite their undeniable mutual attraction, Jamie wants to avoid getting into a committed relationship with Anna. Not because he's emotionally unavailable, but because he has terminal cancer and doesn't want to break her heart. He has even opted to not take further treatment, despite his family's objections. Still, he and Anna can't resist each other, and they go for it anyway. They are so in love that Anna finds herself facing a critical decision: Should she still go back to the U.S. for her Goldman Sachs job, or should she stay in the U.K. with Jamie to help take care of him and keep him company for however much time he has left? An integral factor in this situation is that Jamie vehemently does not want Anna to stay. She has such a bright future ahead of her; she shouldn't give it up for a guy she just met and who won't be around for much longer. 'I would never make you make such a bloody stupid decision,' he tells her, also pointing out that there isn't much career growth if she decides to work at the university. When Anna tells him she isn't taking the Goldman job after all, he's furious. But Anna and Jamie's relationship has been quite eye-opening for her. Throughout their time together, her lifelong love for poetry and literature has only deepened. She expresses her dreams of traveling the world. She loves the Henry David Thoreau quote, 'Live life deliberately,' which has long inspired her to plan out every detail of her trajectory. But after encountering Jamie and his carpe diem approach to life, she realizes perhaps Thoreau was referring to something else. Living deliberately is not about planning everything, but about 'being definite about every small moment,' she says in the film. And what is life but not a series of moments? At the end of My Oxford Year, Anna and Jamie make up from their argument and spend the night together, but Anna wakes up to find Jamie nearly unconscious. He has a critical case of pneumonia that will likely kill him. At the hospital, the doctor wants to discuss next steps for treatment with Jamie's parents, but they decide to honor his wishes and let nature take its course. Back at home, lying on what is now Jamie's death bed, he and Anna talk about her future. Now that she's stayed in the U.K., she can go on the 'grand tour' she's always dreamed of. The itinerary includes Amsterdam, to see a hidden chapel; Paris, to get drunk by the Seine; Venice, to ride a gondola; and Greece, to see the Temple of Poseidon and swim in the Aegean Sea. As Anna plans her travels aloud, a tender montage of her and Jamie visiting these sites appears onscreen—until, in the end, it's revealed that she was alone the whole time. When the film jumps back to Jamie and Anna on the bed, it appears he has died right beside her. She might not have Jamie physically with her when she goes on her dream trip, but she does take his lessons and worldview with her as she moves forward with her life. As Carson previously told ELLE, their relationship 'changes her forever and for the better,' because she learns to 'lean into what brings her joy and what always was the love of her life, and that was poetry and literature.' Sure enough, in the film's final scene, Anna is now a professor at Oxford, teaching a poetry class of her own. My Oxford Year argues that choosing your love is choosing your future—especially if that love helps you achieve the dreams you were too scared to chase. In a sense, it eliminates the decision entirely, because you can have both; you can have your cake and eat it too. It's very romantic, it's melodramatic, and it's definitely rare, but it works in the context of a sappy, two-hour Netflix film with Sylvia Plath references and idyllic English settings. But in the cases of Belly from TSITP or Lauren from The Hills (who are both 'the girl who didn't go to Paris'), or any experience rooted deeper in reality, it's not quite the same. Those decisions, and the men involved, require a little more... deliberating. ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE. Erica Gonzales is the Deputy Editor, Culture at where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. She was previously an editor at There is a 75 percent chance she's listening to Lorde right now.
